Chen E, et al. - This paper probed into the hemostatic effect of topically applied brimonidine in patients being treated with anticoagulants and undergoing Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS). It was determined that with the aid of preoperative application of brimonidine 0.33% gel, a decrease could be brought about in the blood loss and the need for electrocautery during MMS for patients taking anticoagulants.

Methods

• Herein, the enrollees undergoing MMS were randomly allocated to the control (n = 10) or study arm (n = 14).
• Standard-of-care MMS was received by the controls.
• In contrast, the study arm received the same and preoperative application of brimonidine.
• The rate of blood flow, percentage of wound bed surface area requiring electrocautery, and variations in skin colorimeter readings were evaluated.

Results

• 68% less blood loss was reported by the treatment arm, over 30 seconds versus the control arm (P < .05).
• Neither of the patients in the brimonidine arm displayed more than 50% of the wound bed cauterized versus 80% in the controls.
• A decrease was brought about in the erythema of the treatment arm by 3.89 times (P < .01).